Places That Stir Creative Juices
Geetali’s excellent blog, Shimla Gallimaufry, conjures thoughts of places I have visited that had a very positive effect on my creative energy. Geetali writes about and photographs the town of Shimla, where she lives. Shimla lies in the northwest corner of India, with Kashmir and China to the north, Pakistan to the west, and Nepal to the east. That grayish mass on the map below, stretching from the north to the east and south depicts the Himalayan Mountains. The red “A” marks Shimla.
I have visited several such places; out-of-the-way corners of civilization that require some effort to reach for those who do not live in their immediate environs. Some are islands: Malta, Sicily, the Greek island of Lemnos, the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Some, like Shimla, are “islands” by virtue of their remoteness: Taos and Silver City, in New Mexico, fishing villages in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.
The following two photos were taken in the kind of places I am describing. The first was taken on Malta, the second in Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia.
I could not have taken either of those photos within several hundred miles of any place I have ever lived. That is why such places stir my creative juices; within their unfamiliarity the senses take over. The mind is quieter, or at least it is occupied by curiosity and wonder rather than by judgment, analysis, or any of its other enterprises. With attention to sensations, and with a quieter, more open mind, creative stuff happens because intuition has more room to play.
My point, I suppose, is less about Shimla or any other place on earth, than about my own creative process, which seems to require more attention to the senses and intuition than to thought. Still, I am grateful to Geetali for a window into her world and into myself.
Tags: Creativity, India, Malta, Peggy's Cove, Shimla
Oh Dick! What gorgeous photo’s.
I’ve longed dreamed of trekking to a tiny out-of-the-way place in northern Nepal called Mustang. It’s apparently not very much changed this past 1000 years or so. Will only verify that if I actually go someday.
You are so right. Place seems to have a strong bearing on ones creative process. Travel not just changes the scenery, but the soul as well.
Thankyou for the inspiration.
mi
Hi Dick!
We have yet another adventure in common! Peggy’s Cove! I have been there! That is where my former husband and I honeymooned! We got there on that HUGE catamaran (how awesome is that!) and discovered on our arrival that we still had several hours of driving ahead of us to reach Peggy’s Cove — ALL OF IT WELL WORTH IT! What an incredibly beautiful place! Quiet, serene, and unique in its beauty. I will never forget it. Another place state-side that is charming and quaint is Ogunquit, Maine. That is where we stayed prior to the cruise that took us to Nova Scotia. Both places were a major departure from my typical tropical island/beach getaways. I am a richer person for having ventured to both of these places and I am thankful to this day that I had the opportunity to go!
Thanks Mitch. Those are two of my favorite pics, oldies but goodies, Kodak film images that I digitized and played with in Elements.
Karen–Peggy’s Cove is so very photogenic. Just amazing. Those places are definitely, as you say, “..all of it well worth it.”
Thank you, Dick! I am so honoured that my little nameless blog about my little, but not-so-nameless town should find mention on your blog. You’re so right: some places are like that. Being in them brings the creative in you alive… I feel lucky to be able to live there, if it sometimes feels as though the world’s rushing by, then all the better!
Geetali, blogs can be like that too, “Being in them brings the creative in you alive.” Thanks for what you are doing.